Archive for October, 2011

Scenic Sunday: New River Gorge

October 30, 2011

New River Gorge Bridge, West Virginia. September 17, 2011.

(Note:  All pictures may be enlarged by clicking on them once or twice.)

This is my post for the Scenic Sunday meme, which shares beautiful scenes from around the world.  To see more Scenic Sunday posts, or to join and show your own pictures, click HERE.

One of the places Betsy and I visited during our travels in September was the New River Gorge in West Virginia.  We had visited the upper part of the New River back in April, 2009, and we wanted to see the new bridge over the gorge on US 19.  The bridge is the third longest arch bridge in the world.  We also thought it would be nice to drive down into the gorge along the old road.

The picture above is of the new New River Gorge Bridge, taken as we started going down into the gorge following the old winding road (West Virginia Route 82).

The Tunney Hunsaker Bridge across the New River, Fayette Station, West Virginia. September 17, 2011.

The Tunney Hunsaker Bridge carries Route 82 across the New River at Fayette Station at the bottom of the gorge.  This bridge, and the winding road down into and then up out of the gorge was the only way to get across the river until the new bridge was built in 1977.

Routes across the New River Gorge in West Virginia.

The map above shows US 19 and the new bridge across the gorge, and the old route (in gold) that had to be used before the bridge was built.

The New River Gorge Bridge as seen from the old bridge across the river. September 17, 2011.

I was able to get a picture of the new bridge high above the river from a walkway on the old bridge.

Watery Wednesday: Duck River

October 26, 2011

A small drop in the Duck River, Old Stone Fort State Park, Tennessee. August 26, 2006.

(Note:  All pictures may be enlarged by clicking on them once or twice.)

This is my post for Watery Wednesday.  To see more of our beautiful watery world, or to join and post your own pictures to share, click HERE.

This picture, taken from my archives, shows a small drop in the Duck River at Old Stone Fort State Park, Tennessee.  We visited the park in August, during a drought.  The slow-moving water flowed through grasses before reaching the drop.  It all made for an interesting — yet pretty — scene.

Our World: High School Football Game

October 25, 2011

Bearden High School football game. Knoxville, Tennessee. October 6, 2011.

(Note:  All pictures may be enlarged by clicking on them.)
This is my post for the Our World meme.  This meme is a second generation of My World Tuesday created by Klaus Peter and is hosted by five wonderful ladies.  To learn more about our world or to join and share your part of the world, click HERE.

As I mentioned in last week’s post for this meme, Betsy and I attended a high school football game earlier this month so that we could see Landon, Betsy’s grandson, perform as a member of his school’s marching band.

Bearden High School football game, Knoxville, Tennessee. October 6, 2011.

My children were in their high school band, so I know all to well, that you need to sit through a football game if you want to see the band.  Some things never change.  The boys for Bearden, Landon’s school, played hard.  They’re the team in the dark jerseys.  Unfortunately, the other team was much better.

Fireworks celebrating a Bearden touchdown. October 6, 2011.

Still, the Bearden boys didn’t give up, and we had to admire the school spirit.  A Bearden touchdown was celebrated with fireworks.

Bearden High School cheerleaders, Knoxville, Tennessee. October 6, 2011.

But I have a confession to make.  After sitting through the entire game I came to the conclusion that some of the best athletes on the field were the Bearden cheerleaders.

Scenic Sunday: Autumn on the Skyway

October 23, 2011

Autumn color on the Cherohala Skyway between North Carolina and Tennessee. October 25, 2009.

(Note:  All pictures may be enlarged by clicking on them once or twice.)

This is my post for the Scenic Sunday meme, which shares beautiful scenes from around the world.  To see more Scenic Sunday posts, or to join and show your own pictures, click HERE.

Autumn in the mountains of eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina can be absolutely beautiful.  This time of the year Betsy and I thoroughly enjoy driving the Blue Ridge Parkway or the Cherohala Skyway.  We don’t make great time on our drives because we stop at every opportunity to enjoy the color, but we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Red and gold leaves of autumn. October 25, 2009.

These pictures, taken from my archives, show what autumn looks like along the Cherohala Skyway.

It’s Football Time in Tennessee

October 20, 2011

Betsy at Blue Hole Falls, Elizabethton, Tennessee. February 14, 2008.

(Note:  All pictures may be enlarged by clicking on them once or twice.)

Betsy bleeds orange every football season.  She’s a very dedicated Tennessee Vol fan.

This has been a difficult season for Betsy.  The Vols are a very young team playing a very hard schedule.  One of the bright spots for the team has been their talented young quarterback, but he got hurt and will be out for several weeks.

Hopefully Betsy will get through the rest of the season without too much heartburn.

This picture was taken on Valentine Day, 2008, while we were visiting waterfalls in northeastern Tennessee.

Watery Wednesday: Walker Camp Cascade

October 19, 2011

Walker Camp Cascade, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee. May 10, 2009.

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This is my post for Watery Wednesday.  To see more of our beautiful watery world, or to join and post your own pictures to share, click HERE.

There are many pretty little streams and cascades in the Smoky Mountains, and Betsy and I enjoy finding them whenever we can.  Walker Camp Cascade comes down the mountain beside Newfound Gap Road.

Our World: High School Football Preliminaries

October 18, 2011

Betsy's grandson Landon (middle drummer) at the high school game. October 6, 2011.

(Note:  All pictures may be enlarged by clicking on them.)
This is my post for the Our World meme.  This meme is a second generation of My World Tuesday created by Klaus Peter and is hosted by five wonderful ladies.  To learn more about our world or to join and share your part of the world, click HERE.

Earlier this month we went Knoxville to see a high school football game.  Betsy’s grandson, is a drummer in his high school band.  That’s Landon in the middle in the picture above.

Both of my children were in the band during their high school years, so it was interesting to see how the pre-game activities have changed since my kids were in school.

Bearden Bulldog banner at the game. October 6, 2011.

Things got started with a group of students bring a large banner out to midfield.

Cheerleaders leading the team out onto the field.

The cheerleaders burst through the banner . . .

The football team arrives on the field. October 6, 2011.

. . . followed by the football team.

Fireworks welcome the team onto the field. Bearden High School, Knoxville, Tennessee. October 6, 2011.

The fireworks reminded me of an NFL playoff game.  But everyone (except perhaps the visiting team) seemed to enjoy the excitement and soon it was time to play football.

Scenic Sunday: Autumn in the Smokies

October 16, 2011

Sun breaking through the clouds above Gatlinburg, Tennessee. October 14, 2011.

(Note:  All pictures may be enlarged by clicking on them once or twice.)

This is my post for the Scenic Sunday meme, which shares beautiful scenes from around the world.  To see more Scenic Sunday posts, or to join and show your own pictures, click HERE.

Last Friday Betsy and I got up before dawn so we could visit the Smoky Mountains in search of some color.  Although we had had some rain and many clouds on Thursday, the weatherman said Friday would be beautiful with clearing skies.  So we took the chance and decided to make the drive.

I’m glad we did.  It was cloudy at daylight, but we were treated to the sight of the sun breaking through the clouds over Gatlinburg while at an overlook above the city.  What a great way to start the day!

The Smoky Mountains on the North Carolina side of the park along Newfound Gap Road. October 14, 2011.

We drove up the mountain to Newfound Gap on the Tennessee-North Carolina border, and then down the mountain into North Carolina.  A few miles past the Gap we stopped at an overlook to enjoy this fantastic view.

Autumn color and blue skies in the Smoky mountains in Tennessee. October 14, 2011.

When I lived in North Carolina we would say that God must have been a Tarheel because He made the sky Carolina Blue.  But Tennessee has some beautiful blue skies as well.  I captured this picture on the Tennessee side of Newfound Gap as we were heading back home.

The Women In My Life

October 13, 2011

Betsy and Kelly at Dale Hollow State Park, Kentucky. August 25, 2007.

(Note:  All pictures may be enlarged by clicking on them once or twice.)

I was going through some old pictures recently and came upon this picture of Betsy and my daughter Kelly.  It was taken back in August, 2007, at Dale Hollow State Park in Kentucky.  Kelly and her husband, Chuck, were getting ready to move to Buffalo, so we met them at the Dale Hollow Lodge for a dinner and some time together.

All I wanted was a picture of these two women together.  I thought it was a simple request and could be easily done.  Obviously, I was wrong.

I just can’t take these two any where!

Our World: Signs of Autumn

October 11, 2011

The dogwood tree in our front yard, Fairfield Glade, Tennessee. October 3, 2011.

(Note:  All pictures may be enlarged by clicking on them.)

This is my post for the Our World meme.  This meme is a second generation of My World Tuesday created by Klaus Peter and is hosted by five wonderful ladies.  To learn more about our world or to join and share your part of the world, click HERE.

One of the first signs of Autumn in our yard is the red leaves on our dogwood tree after the season’s first cold spell.  As you can see, the trees behind the dogwood tree haven’t started to turn yet.

Red dogwood leaves against a blue sky, Fairfield Glade, Tennessee. October 2, 2011.

I like the way the sunlight brings out the red of the leaves.  I think these leaves look especially beautiful against the blue sky.